How Can I Tell The Difference Between Loose Skin And Fat?
Losing a significant amount of weight, the process of aging, and pregnancy can all take their toll on our bodies. Sometimes these events can leave behind excess fat, loose skin, or both. It can be upsetting to look in the mirror and see an image that is not what you expected.
Fortunately, there are a plethora of treatments to address many of the issues that concern us. To find the treatment or surgical procedure that will best address our concerns, we need to understand the underlying cause. Do we have excess fat vs loose skin or vice versa? Today we are going to look at some key indicators that can identify between the two to help you in your quest to find the perfect remedy.
Difference Between Loose Skin and Fat - Dr. Medina at IBI Plastic Surgery & Med Spa
Learn how to understand the difference between loose skin and fat and why it matters. Find the best surgical and non-surgical treatments for both.
Are There Tests to Determine Between Loose Skin and Excess Fat?
There are no official medical “tests” like bloodwork or scans to tell if you have loose skin or excess fat, but there are tests to determine the percentage of excess body fat you are carrying. Doctors can usually tell through a physical exam and some quick manual checks, including:
- Pinch test: Loose skin feels thin and easy to lift, while fat feels thicker, heavier, and harder to pinch.
- Skin fold test: Loose skin tends to wrinkle and fold easily, while fat stays fuller, thicker, and plumper.
- Movement test: When you lightly shake the area, loose skin moves freely and quickly, while fat moves more slowly because it has weight underneath.
- Ultrasound or body composition scans: These can show the layer of subcutaneous fat under the skin, and help determine how much actual body fat is present.
| Test | Loose Skin | Fat |
|---|---|---|
| Pinching | Easier to pinch | Harder to pinch |
| Pulling away from your body | Easier | Harder |
| Thickness when pinched | Thin | Thick |
A consultation with Dr. Angelina Postoev at IBI Plastic Surgery & Med Spa can easily help you determine if you have loose skin or excess fat, and create a plan to correct these cosmetic concerns.
The Difference Between Loose Skin vs Fat and Why It Matters
Loose skin and excess fat deposits require different treatments, so it’s important to know which issue you are dealing with. Many times, after losing weight or experiencing pregnancy, you can have both. Determining the difference between loose skin vs belly fat is not too difficult because the signs are fairly easy to identify.
| Characteristic | Loose Skin | Fat |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Has wrinkles and creases | Looks more solid |
| Definition | Skin that has lost elasticity and sags or droops without much underlying fat that folds or hangs down. | Excess adipose (fat) tissue beneath the skin. It fills up space and adds extra bulk or volume. |
| Texture | Thin, soft, and pliable with wrinkles, creases, or a crepey appearance. | Thicker, more dense, feels softer but more solid and is often jiggly. |
| Location | Areas where skin has become overly stretched like the abdomen after weight loss or pregnancy or arms, thighs, etc. | Anywhere fat deposits tend to collect like the abdomen, flanks, thighs, etc. |
| Causes | Loss of skin elasticity due to age, sun damage, collagen damage, rapid weight loss, pregnancy, genetics. | Consuming too many calories, hormonal imbalances, genetics, sedentary lifestyle, weight gain. |
| Treatment options | Surgical removal through tummy tuck, panniculectomy, or cosmetic tightening with Morpheus8, BodyTite, etc. | Liposuction and other fat removal surgeries or non-surgical treatments like Evolve Trim. |
Loose Skin
Loose skin will usually fold up on itself and if you pinch your belly, you will only be able to grab 3 or fewer millimeters of skin. Individuals who only have loose skin normally have lower body fat percentages (around 9% for women and 17% for men). Visually, the skin appears droopy, saggy, and wrinkled.
What does loose skin look like? Loose skin resembles a thin textile with creases and folds that sag from your body. It does not look as solid as fat. If it appears rippled or droopy, then most likely you are dealing with loose skin.
Excess Fat
When trying to tell the difference between fat and loose skin, you’ll know it’s excess fat if you can pinch your stomach and grab more than a few millimeters between your fingers. Excess fat is not usually wrinkly and tends to be jiggly.
Excess fat can settle into areas that are non-responsive to diet and exercise like the arms, thighs, back, and abdomen. If you’ve recently lost a lot of weight, you might have both loose skin and excess fat — or you may think you have excess skin, but it’s actually that stubborn last layer of fat.
If you still wonder how to tell the difference between fat and loose skin, consult a professional who can identify your issue and provide an effective, customized treatment. Whether it’s excess fat, loose skin, or both — contact us today to start your transformation.
How Do You Get Rid of Unwanted Fat vs. Loose Skin?
The amazing advancements in surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures and enhanced liposuction techniques now make it possible to eliminate unwanted fat and correct the appearance of loose skin.
Treatments to Get Rid of Excess Fat
- Liposuction
- Liposuction is one of the top-performed cosmetic procedures for fat removal. It provides enhanced contours and permanent results using modern, minimally invasive techniques such as VASER liposuction.
360° VASER liposuction before and after - PHYSIQ Treatments
- PHYSIQ uses electrical stimulation and deep heat to reduce fat, tighten skin, and define muscles.
PHYSIQ non-surgical body contouring before and after - Kybella
- Kybella is an FDA-approved injectable that eliminates mild to moderate fat under the chin and other small areas by breaking down fat cells gradually.
Treatments to Get Rid of Excess Skin
Normally, loose skin will not resolve on its own and requires cosmetic intervention. The procedure depends on the amount of skin that needs correction.
Surgical Removal of Loose Skin
Procedures like tummy tuck, thigh lift, or arm lift can remove excess skin and restore smooth contours.
Non-Surgical Treatments for Loose Skin
- BodyTite™
- BodyTite uses radiofrequency-assisted lipolysis to melt fat and tighten skin simultaneously.
- Evolve
- The Evolve suite (Tite, Trim, Tone) targets fat, tightens skin, and tones muscles.
- Evolve Tite: Tightens and smooths skin while stimulating collagen.
- Evolve Trim: Reduces fat and cellulite using vacuum and heat.
- Evolve Tone: Builds muscle definition and improves strength.
Evolve Trim and Tite before & after - PHYSIQ Treatments
- As mentioned above, PHYSIQ also helps tighten loose skin and improve muscle tone.
If you’re unsure whether you’re dealing with loose skin or fat, schedule a consultation at IBI Plastic Surgery & Med Spa. We’ll identify your concern and design a personalized treatment plan to help you achieve the look you’ve always wanted.
